on blog land.  The goal is to post at least twice a week.

The past two months have been crazy — I put my little man in daycare, returned to work full time, and struggled to find the balance between work and family.  A week into the school year, I decided not to do any school work while Samuel is awake.  It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time.  While he’s awake (evenings and weekends), we play, read, dance, sing, laugh, be silly, run errands — live life (and enjoying every minute of it together).  And after he goes down for the night, I empty my backback, settle down on the couch (or at the dinner table) to grade and plan.  And once in awhile, I sit in front of the television and veg out (so good for my body and mind).

Life has definitely become a lot busier.  And sometimes a bit chaotic.  But it is all good.  The students drive me a bit crazy at times (especially when you have 40 8th graders packed in a laboratory class like sardines) but we are working it out.

I continue to take an abundance of photos of Samuel but my creative work has been on the back burner.  I have not scrapbooked since the beginning of August.  Nor have done anything creative since then.  And  I haven’t written any stories about my boy.  And it is driving me mad …

So while I was in Oregon visiting my friend Laura, I picked up a Smash Journal (along with some other goodies).  And she also equipped me with some Amy Tangerine eye candy.

Although my time is limited these days, I thought I would ignite my creative juices by filling this book out with stories about my little man.  It would be another way to document some of his stories/adventures — and some of these stories would eventually translate to scrapbook pages.

This is just a start …

I thought I’d also have other people write in it .  The note above is from my sister in Portland.

I am updating my Project Life book.  I have been adding pictures in it for the last two months with little bits of writing but I want to get back into again and post more regularly.

Sorry about the crummy photos.  I am switching over to Aperture and am slowly learning how to use it.

About a year ago, I started a t-shirt quilt with race t-shirts I’ve collected over the years.  I did most of the prep work for it but because I was sick during the first trimester of my pregnancy, I did not get very far.  Recently, I met a woman who quilts and commissioned her to complete the quilt for me.

The back is full of owls.  The only thing left to do is the binding.  If you’re a quilter, I’d love a suggestion on the color for the binding.

I will leave you with a few of my favorite photos from the week.  Thanks for visiting.

Photo by Laura A.

Morning in Portland.  He’s pensive.  And sweet.  And skinny as heck!

He’s a bit goofy at times.

And definitely on the move.